AP English Literature

Dr. Murphy

Contemporary Poets: Some Research, a Reading, a Movie or a Recitation

50 Points

 Your assignment is to select a poet from the back of the page and then to do the following:

  1. Mandatory: Read a bunch of the poet’s poetry. You can buy book of the poet’s poetry from a bookstore (new or used) or check out poetry from a Public Library. Also, there are on-line resources that have loads of archived poetry. A good place to begin is Open the link and go cruisin’.
  2. Mandatory. Choose one poem and write a 900-1200 word “reading” of it. In other words, interpret, analyze, adore, critique, condemn, etc. the poem. (For a little guidance about how to write about poetry, read chapter 20 in your Bedford.) In addition to reading the poem for its content, you must comment on the poem in terms of at least three (4) of its poetic figures/elements (and feel free to use a couple more if you are interested in scoring in the highest echelons. Many poetic figures are in your Bedford, specifically in chapters 21-25—and you will be quizzed specifically on these terms on 4/7; it’s also wise to be familiar with the content of 26-28 too, but the CB does less of this.). In any case, be sure you identify these figures/elements clearly. Also, feel free to use outside critical sources here (and to cite them properly); or, feel free to use none at all.[1] Also, copy the poem off for me; or cut and paste the poem from the web to your document. I’ve not read every poem, of course, and I’ll need it for reference. Type your essay. (35 Points). It is due on Monday, April 6th.

Choose one (1) of the Following Options:

  1. Over the next few weeks, we have several Computer Lab sessions for the purpose of making movies. These “poetry shorts” are labor intensive; they are also fun, educational, and positively cutting-edge.[2] You may double-up in this assignment, but no slackers. (15 points + as many as 10 extra credit points.) Due on Wednesday (4/22). We’ll air it live.

OR

  1. Choose a poem from your poet to memorize and recite. It doesn’t have to be the poem you interpret in the paper, but the poem should be at least one hundred fifty (150) words in length. It should also be one that you can recite with some sense of lyrical gusto. Higher marks for a Dramatic Interpretation of your poem (15 Points). Recitations will take place on April 22 as well.

NOTE: one poet per person. No doubling up!

Submit 3 choices for poets, in writing, by Wednesday, March 25.

[1] Whether to cite/include critical sources is an important decision. Whether to do so or not depends on the poem/poet and the nature of your reading. In any case, you should read critical material about your poet. At minimum, you are required to read all of the “Perspectives” in the Bedford because they are interesting.

[2] I will provide you with a separate assignment sheet that both describes the “poetry shorts” exercise and provided links to examples.